Pliers



Jan. 24, 1933. R. G. DRIPPS 1,895,314

PLIERS Filed July 10. 1931 Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT a. mains, or MINNEAPOLIS, ivnmvnsotranssrcnon or ONE-HALE "r0 IRENE M.1DRIPPS,ONE-SIXTH TO'FBED c. WICK, ONE-SIXTH TO OBERT n. BERGSTROM, Am) ONE-SIXTH TO GUSTAV I. THoMrso v, ALL OE'MINNEAPOLZS, Mrrnv-Eso'rn rtmns Application filed July 10, 1931., Serial No. 549, 51:

My invention relates to an improvement in pliers, characterized by a novel connecting means between the crossed levers whereby these members are connected at difierent axial points from each other to permit the jaws to operate, and whereby "the strain is centeredat a point nearer the jaws, to provide a high leverage.

It is my object to form the handle or lever connecting means comprising a fiangedcy: lindrical pivot adapted to act as a'bearing upon which one of the crossed levers may rotate as the jaws are opened and closed, and a fulcrum pin projecting from the face of the pivot, and adapted to extend through an aperture formed in the second crossed handle or lever member. The fulcrum pin is irregularly shaped, or otherwise connected to the second handle member against turn- ;ing, and is provided with a threaded end" to receive a nut adapted to hold the two handle members together. The fulcrum pin is offset from the center of the pivot, and in preferred form the center of the fulcrum isxoffset from the center of the pivot adistance equal to the radius of the pivot. The manufacture of such a connecting means necessitates'a novel form of construction of handle or lever members. 7 The invention includes; a pliers formed with one of the levers which carries the jaw on the end thereof with an enlarged pivot work opening for receiving the connecting stud which holds the levers together and in forming the other lever which carries the other jaw with a stud receiving opening which is off center of the axis of the opening in the first lever to provide a pliers or gripping member formed of levers-connected together so that a greater gripping force is provided to the co-operatingaws. I

7 It is a feature of my -'nvention that-the apertures throughthe handle members are so placed as to position thecenter of thc fulcrum at a point interposed between the center of the pivot and the jaws of thehan dle members. Accordingly, while the i' l otingof the jaws takes place at a point relatively far from the jaws to permit the jaws to open widely when the handles are spread,

the offset fulcrum in the connecting causes the strain of pinchingan object be;

tween the jaws to be. centered somewhat nearer the jaws, increasing the'leverageL.

It is a feature of my invention to include the particular method of making a connector in a manner to strengthen the same by means of a stud which; is cast ,or embedded within the connecting member.. Thisistud extends into the cylindrical pivot and the fulcrum pin, and projects from the end of the pin to form the threaded portion for the retaining nut. This stud may be embedded within the pivot; with its circumference ly- I ing in the circumference of the pivot, and

may extend through the fulcrum at one side of the center thereof, to permit the fulcrum to be centered at the circumference of the pivot. The'stud may also be bent in a mannerito provide suflicient offset between the fulcrum and the pivot centers. A notch is formed adjacent the circular aperture for accommodation of .the pi vot, to permit the connecting means to be inserted in place "These features "combine to form'a.pliers which acts to hold an obj ect between'the jaws more tightly than has been possible hereto; fore without sacrificing the adj ustability of the jaws. While the jaws of my pliers may;

bespread to grasp a largefobject without spreading thehandlesto'o far apart to be heldin the hand high leverage is obtained by the offset fulcrum.

Other features, together with the details of construction of my pliers, will'be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

, In the drawing forming apartof thisfspecificationg f Figure 1 is a plan view of my pliers. 'Figure'2 is a plan view of one members of'my pliers. j V V j r Figure 3 is aplan view of the otherha-ndle member of my pliers 1 *Figure 4 isa cross sectionthroughthe hang dle connecting means. I

necting means illustrated in Figure 4.

1 Figure 6 is a cross section through anffalf 9 0 of the handle W Figure 5 is a plan vlew 'of'the handle con- Figure'7 is a plan view'of the connecting means shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 illustrates another modification of handle connecting means.

Figure 9 is a plan View of'the connecting means shown in Figure 8; a

My pliers A are formed with crossed handles 10 and 11 extending into opposed jaws 12and 13. aThe handle members '10 and 11 are similar to the ordinary typeof plier handle members and" are flat adjacent the point drical pivot 17. It may be seen, however, that in this type of Construction, the degree of offset is increased appreciably.

As the fulcrum'19 extends beyond the diameter of the cylindrical pivot 17, I provide a notch 26 adjacent the side of the aperture 16 opposite thebjaw 13. The connecting means B may then be inserted in place by proj ectingthe. fulcrum 19. through the notch 26. This structure obviates ,thejnecessity of of connection therebetween, extending into 17 broad flat hand engaging ends 14 and 15. p

" One handle member 10 is provided with a circular aperture 16. Thisaperture 16 is for accommodation offthe cylindrical pivot 17 "of the connecting means B, which fits freely therein and permits the handle memberlO 'necting meansB. c g

The handle member 11 is provided with a tribe rotated about the portion 1 7 of the consmall aperture 18 which ispreferably irreguv with reference to the handle member 11, and" v 35 ofithe handle members and His thus the handle 10 merely pivotson the pivot 17.

In order to strengthen the fulcrum 19, I

providea stud which iscast or molded di-' rectly'into the connecting means B. The stud 20-is preferably formed withitscircumference lying, in the circumference of the cylindrical pivot 17, extending through theffulcrum 19 to project somewhat beyond the same.

The stud 20 may pass throughthe fulcrum.

19 at oneside thereof as illustrated inFigure 4, so that the center ofthe fulcrum 19 is ofiset from the center of the pivot "17 a distance to equal to or somewhat ex'ceeding the radius ofthe cylindrical pivotp The projecting end 22 of the pivot 20 is threaded to accommodate a retaining nut 23 acting to hold the jaws 10 and ll together; 3 A flange 24 is formed on the connectingmeans B adj acentthe cylindrical pivot 17 to hold the handle memberlO in place. I 1

If it is desired the connecting means B may beform d as illustrated in Figure 6. Inthis modification a curved'stud 25 is embedded within the connecting means so that thisstud 25may be positioneclcentrally within the fulcrum 19. This type ofjconstruction- -makes agreat'strain necessary to twist the fulcrum 19 from the circular pivot 17 p 1 The modification illustrated in Figure 8 is very similar toithat illustrated in Figure ,4

' with theexceptioii that the stud 20 is centered somewhat within the diameter of the, cylinthe circular pivot-17 is centered sufficiently far from the jaws to permit thesame to open widely. However, whenanob'iect is being-- graspedby the jaws 12 and '13, the handles. 10 and 11 cease to pivot andthe pliers remain V in a static condition. Force exerted. at the ends 14 and'15 of the handles 10' and 11 'is providing aremovable-flange 24 .onv the. pivot I In operation, when the handle members 10 7' 7' and 11 are spread apart at the handle ends,

exerted against the object being grasped by i v the jaws 12 and 13. However, the center V of the pivot 17 is the fulcrum of theforce exerted upon the handle '10 whereas the center of the offset fulcrum 19 is the fulcrum of the force exerted upon the handle member 11. As the forces on the two handle membersare thus not directly opposed on the connecting: means B, a resilient force betweenthe center of the pivot and the center of the fulcrum results in a couple force tending to twist the fulcrum 19 from the pivot 17. The leverage centered between the center of the fulcrum 19 and the center of the pivot 17 fThefce'nter of leverage. is, accordinglv closer to the jaws than is the, pivot point and thus an increased leverage is obtained. 7 V T c j In accordince with thepatent statutes I have described the principles of operation of 7.

my pliers, and while Ihave'endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereo f,I desire to have it understood that this is only a'means of carrying out my invention and that obvious changes may be made'within the scope of the spirit of the invention.

I claim: I p 1 1. A pliers including, a pair of following claims without departing from the levers, an

enlarged pivot work opening formed in one of said levers, a small stud receiving opening formed inthe other of said levers, and a connector having a workingsurfaceto fit'into saidfirstenlarged opening in said first lever,

and an offset-stud having a threaded end for receiving a nut adapted to proiectthrough said small opening in saidsecond lever, said ofi'setstud being positioned toextend withits: axis lying in theworking surface of said cone nectorwhich operates in saidenlargedopen- I e r 2. A pliers including, a pair .of *ieveis, 7

working jaws :formed on one end of said levers, operatinghandles formed on the other end, a connector for holding said levers together including a cylindrical Working surface adapted to engage in a similar surface in one of said levers, an annular flange adjacent said working surface on said connector, an offset stud projecting from the side opposite said flange of said connector, a threaded end formed on said stud, a nut for engaging the same, said stud having an angular nature and adapted to fit into a similar angular opening formed in the other of said levers of said pliers, to rigidly secure said stud in said last lever while the other lever pivots on said cylindrical working surface, the axis of said stud being positioned in line with the periphery of said working surface on said connector for the lever mounted thereon.

3. A pliers including, a pair of levers having Working jaws on one end and handle members on the other, and a connector adapted to hold said levers in working position with a pivoting point on one lever and an attaching point on the other lever, the axis of the pivot and attaching points being offset to a degree whereby the attaching point is closer to the working jaws than the axis of the pivoting point, and the axis of the attaching point being positioned in linewith the periphery of the working surface of the pivot point of said levers.

4:. A pliers including, a pair of crossed levers, a connector pivotally extending through one of said levers with an enlarged cylindrical working surface, a stud projecting from the body of said connector offset beyond the periphery of said working surface and adapted to be fixed in one of said levers, while the working surface of the connector acts as an enlarged pivot for theother of said levers. v 3 V 5. A connector for a pair of crossed plier levers including, an enlarged cylindrical working surface, an annular flange on one side thereof, a fiat inner bearing surface adapted to form a shoulder to engage against one of the levers of said pliers, an enlarged working surface formed in one of the levers to engage the working surface of said connector adjacent said flange, an anchoring stud projecting from said fiat inner surface of said connector, and positioned beyond the working surface to provide an offset connecting portion for said connector with one of the levers, a threaded end formed on said stud, a

nut for engaging said threaded end to attach said connector to one of the levers of said pliers, while the other lever freely rotates on said cylindrical working surface.

6. A connector for a pair of plier levers-including, a body portion, a cylindrical worlc ing surface for one lever having an annular flange thereabout, a fiat inner shoulder surface adjacent said working surface, an offset attaching stud for the other lever of the pliers adapted to position the attaching stud nearer levers including, a body portion, a stud projecting from said body portion, and a re1nforcing member extending from said body portion and through said stud to reinforce the same in the forming of said connector.

ROBERT G. D'RIPPSJ.

7. A connector fora vpair of crossed plier 

